Editing Van Dyke Parks (section)

===''Happy End'', "Sail On, Sailor", and ''Feats Don't Fail Me Now''===
[[File:YMOHosono2008(cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Happy End (band)|Happy End]] member [[Haruomi Hosono]] (pictured with [[Yellow Magic Orchestra]] in 2010) later performed with Parks at concerts ]]

While recording the ''Discover America'' version of "Sailin' Shoes", Parks and George encountered the Japanese band [[Happy End (band)|Happy End]], who visited their studio unannounced. Parks later recounted that the group had sought guidance on creating "the [[California Sound]]". Though initially hesitant due to his workload, George noticed a briefcase filled with cash brought by Happy End’s representatives, prompting an impromptu collaboration. The two wrote {{nihongo|"Goodbye America, Goodbye Japan"|"さよならアメリカ　さよならニッポン"|"Sayonara America Sayonara Nippon"}}, which became a chart-topping hit in Japan,<ref name="Blues2013">{{cite web|last=Limnious|first=Michalis|title=Versalite artist Van Dyke Parks talks about the Beats, Horatius, Sinatra, Pythagoras, Ry Cooder; and 60s|url=http://blues.gr/profiles/blogs/interview-with-versalite-artist-van-dyke-parks|work=Blues.gr|access-date=August 18, 2013|date=May 22, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20130819033423/http://blues.gr/profiles/blogs/interview-with-versalite-artist-van-dyke-parks|archive-date=August 19, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref> while Parks produced Happy End's final album, ''[[Happy End (1973 album)|Happy End]]'' (1973).{{sfn|Brend|2002|p=160}} This marked the first meeting between Parks' and band member [[Haruomi Hosono]], who later performed alongside Parks at numerous concerts in Japan.<ref name="BillboardLive2013">{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/special/detail/472 |title=ヴァン・ダイク・パークス インタビュー│Special│Billboard JAPAN |publisher=Billboard-japan.com |access-date=July 26, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727021117/http://www.billboard-japan.com/special/detail/472 |archive-date=July 27, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Parks was the primary composer of the Beach Boys' 1973 single "[[Sail On, Sailor]]", which reached number 79 on the ''Billboard'' charts.{{sfn|Priore|2005|pp=141–142}}{{refn|group=nb|Some later pressings omitted Parks' credit.{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=323}}}} He joined initial recording sessions for Little Feat's fourth album ''[[Feats Don't Fail Me Now]]'' at Hollywood’s [[The Sound Factory|Sound Factory]] between January and March 1974.{{sfn|Brend|2002|p=76}} The track "Spanish Moon", produced by Parks and co-written with George, featured a prominent Parks-assisted horn arrangement by [[Tower of Power]] and other production elements distinguishing the track from the remainder of the album.{{sfn|Brend|2002|pp=76, 82}} A truncated version of the song was released as a single in March 1975.{{sfn|Brend|2002|p=82}}

Parks’ involvement did not extend beyond these early sessions, having sparked tensions with Warner Bros. due to budgetary disputes, as recalled by George, who added that Parks "was going to do more" before the band "got stuck [and] broke up for about two weeks".{{sfn|Brend|2002|p=76}}{{refn|group=nb|These Parks-produced sessions additionally yielded two unreleased outtakes, both later included on the 2000 compilation ''Hotcakes & Outtakes''.{{sfn|Brend|2002|p=82}}}} The album’s title origin remains contested between Parks and guitarist [[Paul Barrère]].{{sfn|Brend|2002|p=77}} Alongside members of Little Feat, Parks also contributed to Kathy Dalton's 1973 solo debut ''Amazing'' and [[Howdy Moon]]'s [[Howdy Moon (album)|1974 self-titled album]].{{sfn|Brend|2002|pp=158, 160}}